An alternative type of electric motor is providing car brands with the opportunity to give their performance models a unique driving experience compared to standard cars.
As car companies begin their transition to electric vehicles, Mercedes-Benz is among the carmakers looking for a way to help create a unique driving experience for its performance-car customers.
Radial motors have long been the go-to choice for electric cars, but now Mercedes and Ferrari are among a cohort of carmakers looking to axial flux motors to deliver even greater levels of power and torque, according to Automotive News Europe.
While most electric cars deliver commendable performance figures, radial motors typically offer high power and modest torque, whereas axial flux motors have the opposite effect – far greater levels of torque, while power is lessened.
However, axial flux motors have other benefits, including a far smaller physical size and much lower weight.
British manufacturer Yasa – which has supplied axial flux motors for the Koenigsegg Regera, Ferrari SF90, and the concept Jaguar C-X75 hypercars – was acquired by Mercedes-Benz back in July 2021, with the technology looking likely to end up in Mercedes-AMG models.
Their lightweight nature means an axial flux motor could be fitted at each wheel, quadrupling power and delivering swathes of torque without the worry of breaking gearboxes or differentials.
Their use could help companies like Mercedes-Benz differentiate its passenger vehicles from its performance cars, offering a noticeably different driving experience, while also giving the German carmaker the opportunity to compete directly with the likes of Ferrari, Lamborghini, and McLaren.
It’s unclear if Mercedes’ acquisition of Yasa will threaten the British company’s ability to supply its motors to other car makers.
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